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bubu13
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Registered: 07-2006
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
class blockquote nchristi wrote:
Speaking of ears... My best friend and I had a discussion not long ago about the difference in standards of facial beauty between European/Westerners and Asians (she's Chinese). She said first comes flawless complexion and second comes ears. Maybe to the Japanese, Naogoro has wonderful ears! If they were that detracting to them, it seems they would do something about it. If he were an American, probably he would have had ear surgery done as a child.
But I must admit for some reason Naogoro's ears seemed to be more prominent than in previous episodes. Having been raised an American, I am more sensitized to his ears than Asians probably are. I don't think ears rank at all on the Western scale of beauty as a positive. As long as they aren't that noticeable, we're okay with them, it seems.Throughout history, personality and health, as well as appearance, have been the components of beauty that Japanese women concern themselves with. Looks have always been considered very important; Japanese beauty standards place greatest value on a pretty face, neck, and hair. --Insights Into Japanese Beauty
I suppose that would include the ears? 
The focus on face, neck and hair may come from the fact that it's the only part of the body, besides the hands that are visible when wearing a kimono.
Bishounen
Beauty is not solely limited to the female gender. More often defined as bishounen, the concept of beauty in men has been particularly established throughout history in East Asia, and most notably, in Japan. This is distinct from the idea of being metrosexual, which focuses mainly on the behavior of men in traditionally feminine ways. Bishounen refers to males with distinctly feminine features, physical characteristics establishing the standard of beauty in Japan and typically exhibited in their pop culture idols. The origin of such a preference is uncertain but it clearly exists even today.
Ikemen
Ikemen comes from Japanese ikeru cool, good, exciting and men (面) face. It is used for a good-looking man, for example Kimutaku. The men in ikemen has nothing to do with the English word men. --SLJ faq
I wonder if Naogoro would have been considered a ikemen back in his day?
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6/9/2008, 3:53 am
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Hiroshi66
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
#17 - An Unexpected Marriage
 
I am truly in love with this taiga. Each week, I want to see the story progress more and more, but then again I don't want to see the show end. I think the time period coupled with the awesome set design and acting is what makes this one of the finest dramas I've seen in general (not just taiga).
Poor Naogoro. I really felt sorry for him after this episode.. to have finally made it to Edo, to begin learning about Western navies and military techniques, and then given double bad news -- the death of Sensei and his imminent return to Satsuma. I think the significance of that scene at the end where Naogoro returns to Satsuma and is received by the people (rather coldly, I might add) is that perhaps they thought the reason of his quick return to Satsuma was that he had failed the lord in Edo. I suppose he has to let them know that he will marry Ochika and take over the Komatsu family name.
I think what Nariakira meant by being "adopted" into the family was that rather than Ochika marry into Naogoro's family and take his name (Kimotsuki) -- Naogoro would marry into his wife's family and take the surname Komatsu. This way, their children would become the heirs of the Komatsu family (sensei's family) since Nariakira mentioned that Sensei had no male siblings, children, or nephews. I wonder how Naogoro and Ochika will take it. Ochika seems to have grown very attached to Naogoro. But from the way Naogoro greeted Ochika when he returned to Satsuma, the idea is still very tough for him.
I am glad he was able to meet with Atsu and Saigo in Edo before he left though. Nariakira is very caring when he comes to that -- after adopting Atsu, he has never denied her visits or news from her family and friends back in Satsuma. In one of the previous episodes, Oyuki (Atsu's mom) mentioned that she had received a letter from Atsu. So rather than ban Atsu from having any correspondence with her relations back home, Nariakira seems to be allowing it to happen (and then he bought Atsu and Naogoro that go board to play while Naogoro was visiting her. how nice of him.) I don't know if that's how the Edo Ooku will function.
And then the great Earthquake of late 1855 in Edo. I never knew about that before, I guess it might be the final great earthquake of Edo before the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake that devastated Tokyo and Yokohama in the years after World War I. What a shame that those beautiful wedding dowry items Ikushima loved so much were all destroyed. I hope the earthquake doesn't postpone the wedding.
LOL oh yes, Naogoro's ears.. I also noticed that during the episode. Poor guy!! I was trying to ignore it during the scene they were playing go, but it was too hard!!
Episode 18 airs next week!
Bubu -- that's so cool how you made the CJK main page show up inside the laptop screen in that picture! Guess we're popular in Japan too! 
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6/10/2008, 6:42 am
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nchristi
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Registered: 03-2004
Location: Hotel California
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Re: J-Drama: 篤姫 (Atsu-hime)
class blockquote bubu13 wrote:
Looks have always been considered very important; Japanese beauty standards place greatest value on a pretty face, neck, and hair. --Insights Into Japanese BeautyYes, I completely agree with the above. "Asian" is a very big "catch-all" term, with each culture actually having widely varying standards for everything.
I remember reading long ago that for Japanese men, the female neck is an especially enticing part of the visible female anatomy. In my teen years, I had very long hair that I always wore up. I had a boyfriend who loved the nape of my neck. I thought it odd, until I became a fan of taigas and began inhaling everything Japanese.
The very artistic Japanese emphasize everything in the best light possible. The collar of the kimono is strategically fashioned to enhance a woman's neck, flowing upward to the hair and face shapes. Very beautiful lines and artistic balance. The actress playing Atsu has a particularly delicate and curvaceous neck that is stunningly emphasized by the kimonos she wears.
Did everyone see the Japanese News a couple weeks ago where they spotlighted the kimono designer from Japan? Since he does costuming for many Japanese TV shows, I keep wondering if he had a hand in the luxurious kimonos that Atsu wears? I think I have not seen more luscious colors and designs than what Atsu wears. Those red ones are simply spectacular.
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6/10/2008, 2:12 pm
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11/29/2009, 2:43 pm
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class blockquote bubu13 wrote:
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